Carlsan
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2009
- Posts
- 3,046
- Likes
- 1,100
Astrotec AX60 impressions:
Impressions done with Sony ZX1 and Ibasso DX90.
Built: Build quality is quite good. Metal casing seems as if it can be fun over by a truck and it will be fine. Cable connections have re-enforcements to help with strength. Cable itself is highly flexible.
Sound: Overall it is a slight “U” sound with slightly more stress on the highs. To my ears the highs aren’t the most natural heard in an earphone. As was mentioned above, the highs can sound metallic at times. They can be sibilant, dependent on track, but it doesn’t seem to bother me as it has others. So, if you are prone to discomfort from sibilance, best to avoid these.
To me the mids are slightly recessed, but not enough to alter the sound. Mids do sound pretty good with these, even if slightly recessed. They sound full, and vocals sound good.
Bass, like so many earphones, is dependent on tips. I found the default tips to not be the best for me for seal and to get the bass to sound decent. The bass with the default tips seems to have nice extension but sounded loose at times. The Sony ZX1 may also not have given these any justice. Things changed when I changed out to another pair of tips, the e-Q5 Silicon Eartips small, and used the better powered DX90 (mid boost setting). That later setup gave a fuller sound with the bass coming out nicely and some of the sibilance put in check.
Soundstage is good, imaging is very good. With acoustic music one feels that they are sitting on stage next to the performer. Details are good, not $500 plus good, but fine for the price asked.
Speaking of price these are not giant killers or for that matter play in the same league. I find them overpriced for what one gets. Still these have their allure. The fun factor kicks in at a certain point and one starts to enjoy the music, especially true if you give them a bit of power, and match them with tips that work for you.
My final words, these are an admirable effort. They do sound quite good with some types of music and paired with the right DAP and eartips. I especially enjoyed them with acoustic and slower music. Not really recommended for someone looking for clear highs or is sibilant adverse but good for someone looking for a fun earphone.
Unfortunately for Astrotec, the earphone marketplace has changed so much just within the past six months. In the same price range one can buy the DUNU DN-2000, which gets almost everything right, or its older brother at a cheaper price, the DN-1000 which is one of the best fun earphones I have ever heard.
These will be sent back to their home shortly. Would I add them to my already extensive collection, maybe at the right price, but not at its current retail price.
Impressions done with Sony ZX1 and Ibasso DX90.
Built: Build quality is quite good. Metal casing seems as if it can be fun over by a truck and it will be fine. Cable connections have re-enforcements to help with strength. Cable itself is highly flexible.
Sound: Overall it is a slight “U” sound with slightly more stress on the highs. To my ears the highs aren’t the most natural heard in an earphone. As was mentioned above, the highs can sound metallic at times. They can be sibilant, dependent on track, but it doesn’t seem to bother me as it has others. So, if you are prone to discomfort from sibilance, best to avoid these.
To me the mids are slightly recessed, but not enough to alter the sound. Mids do sound pretty good with these, even if slightly recessed. They sound full, and vocals sound good.
Bass, like so many earphones, is dependent on tips. I found the default tips to not be the best for me for seal and to get the bass to sound decent. The bass with the default tips seems to have nice extension but sounded loose at times. The Sony ZX1 may also not have given these any justice. Things changed when I changed out to another pair of tips, the e-Q5 Silicon Eartips small, and used the better powered DX90 (mid boost setting). That later setup gave a fuller sound with the bass coming out nicely and some of the sibilance put in check.
Soundstage is good, imaging is very good. With acoustic music one feels that they are sitting on stage next to the performer. Details are good, not $500 plus good, but fine for the price asked.
Speaking of price these are not giant killers or for that matter play in the same league. I find them overpriced for what one gets. Still these have their allure. The fun factor kicks in at a certain point and one starts to enjoy the music, especially true if you give them a bit of power, and match them with tips that work for you.
My final words, these are an admirable effort. They do sound quite good with some types of music and paired with the right DAP and eartips. I especially enjoyed them with acoustic and slower music. Not really recommended for someone looking for clear highs or is sibilant adverse but good for someone looking for a fun earphone.
Unfortunately for Astrotec, the earphone marketplace has changed so much just within the past six months. In the same price range one can buy the DUNU DN-2000, which gets almost everything right, or its older brother at a cheaper price, the DN-1000 which is one of the best fun earphones I have ever heard.
These will be sent back to their home shortly. Would I add them to my already extensive collection, maybe at the right price, but not at its current retail price.
